


J 


mi)c ^cacc=mafecv’s epattcti jparentase a no vicl) XnJjecItance 


A SERMON, 


PRONOUNCED IN THE NORTH CHURCH 


AT NEW-HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, 


CURING THE SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE. 


BY APPOINTMENT Oi 


THE PEACE SOCIETY OF T11E STATE, 


JUNE, 1834 



V' 


/ 

By THE REV. CORNELIUS C. VA URSDALEN 

---- Y^n^rsd^ i^,H 

J) 


follow Peace with all Men.—S t. Paia 




HARTFORD: 

PRINTED BY P. CANFIELD 









COIUIESPON DEN CE. 


Rev. and Dear Sir,— 

At a meeting of the Connecticut Peace Society, held June 16th, 1834, 
the following vote was passed: 

Resolved , That the thanks of this Society be presented to the Rev. Mr. Vanarsda^ 
len for his interesting Address, and that a copy be requested for publication. 

Very respectfully, 

Your ob’t. Serv’t. 

LYNDE OLMSTED, Secretary. 

To the Rev. Mr. Vanarsdalen. 


Dear Sir, 


Though my address was written during such leisure moments as I 
could catch from other pressing duties, and was not intended for publication, still,, 
as your Society have expressed the hope that it may aid their cause, I send it here¬ 
with. If it shall merely direct the attention of the people to the subject, one point 
will be gained, and my efforts, though feeble, may not be in vain. It is a cause de¬ 
serving the aid of all men,—and may the Lord open their minds to a perception of its 
importance, and their hearts to engage in its promotion. 

Yours truly, 

CORNELIUS C. VANARSDALEN 


To Lynde Olmsted, Esq., 

Secretary of the Connecticut Peace Society. 




THE PEACE MAKER S EXALTED PARENTAGE AND RICH INHERITANCE. 


A SERMON. 


f ‘ Blessed are the Peace makers; for they shall be called the children ot 

God.”—Matt. v. 9. 

However unpopular the cause of Peace may be in the 
present day, it is evident from these words of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, that he took his stand as its decided advocate. He did 
not think it too unimportant to engage his time, or to call forth 
his efforts; nor did he view it as a cause too desperate to in¬ 
spire hope. And both by his example and his instructions he 
has left to us the exalted privilege, as well as the solemn duty, 
of pursuing the same course. 

Never had our world beheld a specimen of true greatness, 
till it was exhibited in the person of the God man, for u he 
overcame the world.” Neither ridicule nor persecution ; neither 
insults nor stripes could awaken malevolent passions in his 
mind, or lead him to one revengeful action ; on the contrary, 
he wept for, and pitied his foes as inflicting injuries on them¬ 
selves rather than on him. Never was there a being who suf¬ 
fered so many wrongs ; never was there a being who had such 
power to resent them ; yet never was there a being who exer¬ 
cised such sublime forbearance. “When he was reviled, he 
reviled not again.” Such was the course of life which this 
exalted visitor to our world pursued. Nor was the splendour of 
its moral glory diminished in his death. Even when nailed 
and bleeding on the cross, he who had said to his disciples 
“ pray for them that despitefully use you,” himself practiced 
what he had taught, and, as if insensible to his own pangs, 



4 


and alive only to the guilt and the ruin which his enemies? 
were bringing on themselves, he poured out the prayer of his 
heart, u Father forgive them,” And then, when he had finish¬ 
ed his work, and returned to his Father, the language which 
he left behind him among men was, u I have given you an 
example.” u If any man will come after me, let him deny 
himself and take up his cross, and follow me.” The Lord 
Jesus Christ therefore is held up to our view in the sacred scrip¬ 
tures, not only as our atoning Saviour, but as our great exam¬ 
ple, as the model which w r e are to imitate, and no one has any 
true ground of hope that he shall be saved by his blood, un¬ 
less he does thus take Christ as his model, and strive with every 
power, in every condition, to attain and to exhibit “ the same 
image.” 

But in that system of divine truth also, which, as our in¬ 
structor, the Lord Jesus Christ came to unfold, the same pacific 
principles are most solemnly enjoined. u Love your enemies, 
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.” 
Such are the pure and the gentle principles of the gospel of 
Peace ; such is the spirit which is congenial to Heaven, and 
which must be cherished and exhibited on earth, by all who 
hope to dwell in Heaven,—for, u blessed are the peace-makers; 
they shall be called, that is, shall be the children of God.” 

I have merely chosen this passage, as one of the many in 
which the scriptures most clearly inculcate the spirit of Peace. 
I shall not detain my audience however, by showing, to its full 
extent, the character here spoken of. Let it suffice to say that 
it implies a moral conformation to the image of Christ. He is 
a peace-maker, in the sense of this passage, whose heart has 
been renewed by the Holy Ghost, and who, in himself afford¬ 
ing a specimen of the power of the Gospel of Peace, is not 
only at peace with his God and at peace with his neighbour, 
but who also, by his example and by the efforts of his life, ha¬ 
bitually strives to promote the same peace among others. It 
implies an amiable, a forbearing, a forgiving, a benevolent 
spirit. That spirit which sees in every man a brother—which 
delights to behold the smiles of peace on every brow, and pants 




w 

5 

to inspire line and substantial peace in every heart. To con- 
fine our remarks then to the subject before us, nothing can be 
more evident than that such a spirit is wholly opposed to the 
spirit of war.—War is so glaring a violation of the gospel; it 
is so entirely the reverse of the example of Christ; it calls into 
exercise such different feelings and produces such different re¬ 
sults, that we wonder how any persons, professing to take the 
gospel as their guide, coidd have been so blind as not to perceive 
it.* Allow me to offer a few reflections, my hearers, which 
may serve to establish this position. 

Were we to trace the origin of war, in how many instances 
do you suppose we should find it to arise from obedience to the 

* I am aware that much has been said in defence of war. For great as the 
evil is—and unchristian and barbarous as it is, it has not been without its ad- 
vocates. Jefferson, and Jay, and Adams have contended for it, and some 
philosophers (vide Cousin’s Introduction to the history of Philosophy, Lec¬ 
ture 9th,) have defended it as both necessary and useful. And these opinions 
are entertained by many persons in the present day, and some who profess 
better things, but I want no argument stronger than the text to show that all 
their reasoning has been wrong. The only true philosophy is the philosophy 
of the gospel, and I would sooner believe the Lord Jesus Christ than the 
most profound, merely human philosopher that ever lived.—I would place 
more reliance on the principles contained in the sermon on the mount, than 
in all the speculations of men. What is the history of Philosophy but an 
expose of its cameleon nature—showing us, that, with the exception of a 
few first principles, it has changed its colour with every changing generation, 
to suit the aspect of the age. Every system has stood for a while like some 
man of straw, only to be beaten down by succeeding authors, that theirs 
may occupy its place—till they also are succeeded by others still. These 
very mutations of philosophy show us the absurdity of making it our depend- 
ance. Nothing is firm and immoveable but the word of God. This is for¬ 
ever the same. In the whole world I can find nothing on whicljrto rest but - 
this. If I see then that the reasoning of philosophy is at all opposed to the 
principles herein contained, I have no hesitation which to pronounce true. 
The philosophy must be wrong, and future ages will prove it so. “ Let God 
be true, but every man a liar.” And all the arguments which have or can be 
urged in favour of war, must be swept away by the single declaration of the 
son of God, “ Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the 
children of God.” Language could not more clearly tell us that God con¬ 
demns war, and those who engage in, or promote it, and that lie approves 
Peace and the Peace-maker. 



6 


golden rule given us by Jesus Christ, 44 all things whatsoever 
ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them'/ 
Could we lay open the hearts of men, and examine with per¬ 
fect distinctness, as God does, the first springs of action, should 
we not find that the prospect of temporal gain ; the hope of 
fame ; the desire of revenge ; a paltry jealousy about national 
rights; or some equally unchristian motive, is in every case the 
origin of war ? To exalt self by abasing others, is the grand 
moving principle of war. War therefore arises from an indul¬ 
gence of that selfishness, selfishness in its most appalling as¬ 
pect, which is the very reverse of holiness. When war was 
about to be declared, who ever heard the question proposed— 

4 will it be justified by those eternal principles which the 
great Supreme has published, and which all his creatures 
are bound to obey ? Will it tend to promote our Maker’s glory 
or the salvation of our fellow men V But the question is, shall 
we profit by it, or shall we be avenged ? Shall we, as a nation, 
or as individuals, gain any additional wealth or reputation ? 
Shall our honour be promoted or preserved ? Hence the apos¬ 
tle James says — 44 whence come wars and fightings among 
you ? come they not hence, even from your lusts ?” Here they 
originate, and therefore in their very conception, warlike feel¬ 
ings are violations of the holy law of God. 44 Love thy neigh¬ 
bour as thyself,” is a principle so exalted in its nature, that be¬ 
fore the thought of war can be cherished it must be banished 
from the mind. If then, the motives which first lead to war 
are contrary to the gospel, surely their indulgence, and the pas¬ 
sions to which they give rise, and the actions, which are the 
developements of the state of the soul within, cannot be in 
accordance with its holy requirements. Nay the spirit of war 
is not only at variance with the law of God, but it is opposed 
to the first dictate of our nature. The mind must undergo a 
schooling before it is fitted for the scenes of war. Depraved as 
the heart is by nature, it must still be educated to the power of 
overcoming its relentings, and Habit only, and the resistance of 
many better feelings, enables it to behold human blood without 
horror, and to stand unsubdued amid the carnage of war. 


7 



Look also at the speeches which are addressed by command¬ 
ers to their armies. In the character of these, you may learn 
something of the spirit of war. What are the passions to which 
they appeal ? How entirely opposed to the gospel arc all the 
feelings they endeavor to arouse ! Exaggerated accounts of 
injuries sustained ; petty insults, swelled into gross crimes, are 
represented as causes sufficiently aggressive to sanction the 
murder of thousands. Respect has not been shown to our 
llag, and therefore its stains must be washed out in blood ; our 
rights have been infringed, and therefore thousands of our fellow 
beings must die. How, after such addresses, would the words 
of the Son of God sound,—“ I say unto you, love your enemies, 
do good to them that hate you ?” And then, patriotism is ap¬ 
pealed to ! Patriotism ! O sacred word ! How has it been 
perverted and abused ! What calls forth feelings more truly 
patriotic than the gospel of Christ ? Where is there so true a 
patriot as the true Christian ? Who more warmly loves his 
country, or blesses it with greater good ? But, to awaken the 
spirit of war, the hope of military glory must be addressed; 
the heart must be inflated with pride, and the desire of revenge 
must be aroused ;—these are the passions which have been 
called Patriotism ! And then they have extorted large sums 
from the people; they have oppressed the whole land; they 
have spread terror and confusion in every family; they have torn 
friends from friends, and led them out to battle, and then left’them 
in their blood;—and this is Patriotism! Oh, how much more 
exalted is the patriotism of our holy religion—which seeks not 
the fading honors of this world, at the expense of eternal glory, 
but would confer moral and unfading honours on the souls of 
men. Where was there ever a more illustrious exhibition of 
true patriotism, than was seen when Jesus Christ approached 
Jerusalem, and wept over its sinffilness, and the spiritual and 
eternal ruin which hung over his countrymen ? 

But further, the gospel unfolds to us the immense value of 
human life. It asks, with an emphasis which should cause 
the question continually to sound in our ears, “ What shall it 
profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and Jose his own 


8 


soul?” What mind can conceive all that is comprehended ill 
that word, when applied to an immortal sold,— lost! Yet the 
tendency of war is to lead men to look upon this as a trilie- 
The soldier is to banish the thought. Were it once to flash in 
upon his mind that the being who stands before him, at whom 
he is directing his deadly aim, is immortal: that the ball which 
is about to enter his heart, is not to extinguish existence, but to 
hurl another spirit to the regions of eternal despair, to seal the 
period of his probation, and to send him forever and forever 
beyond the reach of hope, his arm would fall paralyzed with 
horror, and, sinking on his knees, instead of a deadly bullet, he 
would send forth the prayer of an ardent and an overflowing 
heart, “ Oh ! my God ! save that precious soul from death!” 
But he is not to think of this. Human life to him is to be com¬ 
paratively of no value. Conquest is the object on which he is 
bent, and the interests of time are to shut out from his thoughts 
the things “ not seen and eternal.” 

But the spirit of war is not only opposed to the spirit of holi¬ 
ness in the soldiery themselves ; its demoralizing influence is 
felt throughout the land. 

For heart from heart far easier takes the plague 

Of sin, than bodies take the plague of death. 

See, on the approach of war, how the moral contagion is spread 
every where. Papers and pamphlets bear it into every family. 
What are the topics of conversation ? The church is deserted, 
—the sabbath is abolished,—the gentle precepts of the gospel 
are excluded from the mind, and in place of Christian kindness 
and benevolence, you hear from every tongue reiterated news 
of bloody deeds. These, if inflicted on a foe, are pronounced 
illustrious triumphs. Cruelty is called courage, and he who 
has the hardest heart is said to be the bravest man. All par¬ 
ties are thirsting for the blood of their enemies,—and, instead 
of seeking to “ do them good,” they are longing to hear of their 
death. Even women and children catch the same unholy 
passions. When, for instance, the news of a victory is received, 
—mark with what pleasure they peruse the account. The 
greater the amount of a the killed and wounded,” if they are 


only of the opposing army, the greater is their pleasure, and the 
louder their boast;—no matter what anguish is spread over the 
earth ; no matter how many hearts are broken ; no matter 
how many widows and orphans are left in solitude and tears ; 
no matter what writhing agonies have been felt; no matter 
flow many lives have been destroyed; no matter how many 
souls have been lost! Yes, even woman, to whom we look 
for all that is compassionate and gentle, and to whose mild and 
peaceful nature we turn as the fairest and the richest charm 
that adorns humanity—even woman, at such a time, forgets 
the tender sympathies of her sex, and, infatuated by the false 
glare of military glory, rejoices over scenes of bloock With 
both sexes, and through all classes and ages, there is nothing 
seen nor heard, but what exhibits the malice of the heart. On 
(he other hand the same feelings are spread through all ranks in 
the opposing nation. And thus are whole communities array¬ 
ed against each other, and, though they are already oppressed 
with common ills, and struggling under common sorrows, and, 
though they are brethren, and are soon to stand together at the 
judgment seat, they are about to stain their hands with each 
other’s blood. And then 

“ The prayer of hate goes up 
That Deity, accomplice Deity, 

Will go forth with their armies and their fleets, 

To scatter the red ruin on their foes. 

Oh, blasphemy!” 

There is another consideration which may serve to show that 
war is opposed to the advancement of the gospel. God, we 
know, works by human means, and it is in this way that he 
will accomplish his glorious purposes. Now' go over our land 
and see to what an astonishing extent he is employing this in¬ 
strumentality at the present day. In every city, and village, 
and country town, you will find a missionary society, and a 
bible society, and a tract society, and a sabbath school society* 
These, like so many daughters of heaven, have taken up their 
abode in our land, and, though no one is made poorer by their 
presence, they are going about, calling at every door, and col- 
2 


w 


feeling such gifts as the people have to spare, and then bearing 
them out to a world of perishing souls. From the icy shores 
of Greenland to the burning sands of Africa, they are spread¬ 
ing their blessings. They are informing the minds, and im¬ 
proving the hearts, and instrumentally saving the souls of men. 
They are elevating the conditions of thousands ; they are 
driving before them the cruelties and the crimes of savage life ; 
they are enkindling the gentle affections of the gospel; they are 
instructing men how to be happy and useful while they live, 
and they are opening the prospect of heaven to many a dying 
fellow being ;—in short, with the vast and subduing motives 
which they unfold, and attended as they are by the Holy Ghost, 
they are bringing back our world from its ruined state, and 
again adorning it in the charms of Paradise. Nor is this all ; 
the blessings which they confer on the giver, are still greater 
than those which attend the gift; for ten thousand holy angels 
follow each of these daughters of Heaven, and to every one 
who contributes his mite, they repay, in far more precious 
treasures, a two-fold reward ; imparting to the soul even here 
the sweet consciousness of doing good, and then bearing 
their account to the record on high, to appear in its favour 
in the last day, among “ the deeds done in the body.” Now 
suppose war should be declared. Would not these daugh¬ 
ters of Heaven drop their work of mercy ? Could they remain 
amid the noise, the tumult, and the crimes of war ? Or would 
they fly weeping from the land, exclaiming with one of old, 
“ arise, let us depart hence V The public mind would not 
only be turned from them, but all their resources would be ab¬ 
sorbed. Sums immensely greater in amount, must then be 
raised, not by voluntary contribution, but by positive demand. 
Taxes must be levied. The rich and the poor must bear their 
portions to the altar—the altar of what ?—of mercy ? No— 
the altar of Moloch ! to spread desolation, and sin, and suffer¬ 
ing over the land. 

As yet, however, we have only glanced at a few of the evils 
of war. Let us now lor a moment look at the camp, where its 
crimes and its miseries are more fully displayed. Suppose 



11 

yourself then, my hearer, where you may behold the field of 
battle. There you see multitudes of your fellow beings—ra¬ 
tional—accountable—immortal like yourself, adorned in all the 
tinsel and the trappings of war, and just about to engage in 
deadly strife. It is a moment of awful silence—from rank to 
rank there steals a gloomy foreboding of scenes that are to 
come—as though the voice of God, with one more lingering 
word, would warn them to forbear. But it is in vain—the 
fearful signal is given; and then, the roar of cannon—the 
rattle of musketry—the clash of steel—the shout—the cry— 
the dying groan, rising from either side, tell you, the work of 
slaughter has begun ! Volley after volley pours in its stream 
of death ! rank falls on rank—and scattered limbs, the flesh 
still tremulous with life, and mangled bodies, strew the ground ! 
Oh what a scene is this, for Christian eyes to look upon ! Oh 
what multitudes of precious, deathless souls, with impreca¬ 
tions on their lips, and burning passions raging in their hearts, 
thus rush, in crowds, to stand before their God !—Oh war!— 
war !—how hast thou peopled hell, with souls that cannot die ! 

Then, when the noise of the battle is over, step out and see 
what fearful havoc it has made. Mark the streams of flowing 
blood—see those mangled bodies, which but yesterday were full 
of life. Behold those ghastly features, even in death, express¬ 
ive of the hatred that raged within when the spirit took its 
flight. And as you look over these lifeless bodies, remember, 
they suffered not alone. To each of them many tender hearts 
were bound, and every wound which you there behold, has 
opened fountains of grief in many a living breast. These— 
these are the miseries of war. They are not only in the 
agonies of the battle field—appalling as the scene is which we 
there behold—to gain a full view of the dark picture, we must 
look away into the half-hidden back grounds—and there we 
must behold the groups of mourners that are left to drag out 
the tedious years of their lonely existence, in sorrow and in 
want. We must observe what the historian studiously omits, 
in his imposing, yet imperfect sketch. We must search out the 
ten armies of surviving friends, who suffer a living death, for 


every army that is slain. The broken hearted mothers—the* 
desolate sisters—the lonely widows—the friendless orphans— 
these are to be pictured in their tears—and then the weeks, and 
months, and years before them, of untold sorrow, are to be re¬ 
membered—and then, with all these in view, let the mangled 
bodies of the dead, be placed in the relief, and as the proud 
victor is seen with a lofty brow, returning from the conflict—as 
you look Upon the scene which he leaves behind him—as you 
see the anguish he has caused—as you think of the hearts he 
has broken, ask yourself if this hero is not an enviable man ? 
And as you listen to the loud shout of applause, and see the 
homage he receives from the throng, then, too, let the sobs of 
these widows and orphans be heard, and again ask, if the fame 
of a hero, and the soldier’s praise, are not desirable things. 
And as you hear this soldier boasting of his noble deeds, and 
see him parading in triumph through our streets, with his 
gilded sword and his waving plume, take a glance at the 
wretched hovels where his victims dwell, and is not his triumph 
a glory indeed ! Tie lives on the calamities of others, and buys 
his empty fame at the enormous price of the blood of the 
slaughtered, and the lingering woes of multitudes to whom 
death itself would be a mercy. Yonder, go and turn over 
that heap of lifeless bodies—look at them one by one. There 
you behold a father, and the little children that looked up to 
him for support, must now pine in want, and never know a 
father’s love. Go now and open the door of their distant 
dwelling, and look in upon their grief. See the sad form of 
their mother, when she has heard that she is a widow, and, 
seated with her houseless and her helpless children around her, 
she pours forth the lamentations of a breaking heart. Oh ! look 
upon that scene of hopeless and unmingled woe—see the burn¬ 
ing tear, and hear the sigh, and the sob of the disconsolate ; 
then see her, when the scanty pittance that was left her fails, 
going forth a homeless and a friendless wanderer, with the 
broken heart of a widow, and the fond affection of a mother, 
thrown on the charities of a cruel world. Nor is this a solit ary 
instance—in each of these torn and disfigured forms, you 




13 

!)eliold the body of a father, or a husband, a brother, or a sou. 
in whom wafe hound up the hopes and the joys of many cling¬ 
ing hearts. But were they wasted by disease ? Was there that 
gradual approach of dissolution which a kind providence has 
established as a law of our nature, whereby those who are to 
die are warned to prepare for their departure, and whereby 
those who survive are led on from apprehension to fear—and 
from fear to probability, and thus, step by step, as disease advan¬ 
ces, both are, in a measure, prepared for its consummation ? 
Was the wife permitted to watch by the pillow of her husband, 
and minister to his wants? Did the mother, day after day, 
listen to her dying son, and thus gather a consolation for her 
future sorrow ? No !—suddenly—in the midst of health, they 
were torn away ! Even the last sad pleasure of attending 
them to the silent grave was denied. They are gone—but 
where ? Ah ! often shall that question weigh on their hearts 
—where ?—in the lonely hour of the night, they will think of 
past affections, and the gloomy question will again arise-- 
where? and the wife and the mother will often start from the 
dark and the troubled visions of sleep, and sigh—where ? 
And thus, ever since Cain first rose up in wrath against his 
brother, has this beautiful earth been covered with blood, and 
thus have millions and millions of the human race perished, 
and thus have the most tender affections been severed, and 
hearts have been filled with bitterness, and eyes have been 
filled with tears, and the green grass has been coloured with 
crimson, and the shrieks, and the cries, and the groans of war, 
have been wafted to us from every land, and the fullness of the 
curse has been, that millions and millions of immortal souls, 
each of which was more precious than a universe, have thus, 
unprepared, been driven away into eternity. Oh ! what 
crimes !—Oh ! what sorrow !—Oh ! what agonies !—Oh ! 
what eternal agonies has war produced ! 

But we trust the day of Peace has dawned. The gay 
drapery, and the false splendour of war have been thrown 
aside, and men have begun, in the light of the Gospel of 
Christ, to look behind the scene. This intelligent audience, 


* * 

% K 
% 

14 

convened, not to devise a plan of battle, but of Peace;—to 
consult on the surest means, not of destroying lives, but saving 
them, and of spreading the blessings of Peace over the earth ; 
this audience, convened for such a purpose, presents to heaven 
a fairer spectacle than the conquests of heroes, or the triumphs 
of kings. 

But let me not forget the words of Jesus Christ, or lead you, 
my hearers, to suppose that the mere attendance at this meeting 
is the amount of your duty. You have seen the evil,—that it 
is enormous you cannot deny. What then remains? Shall 
we merely behold it and weep ? The Saviour himself replies : 
“ Blessed are the Peace-makers.” You perceive they are 
Peace-makers on whom the benediction of the Son of God is 
to rest. They are not simply those who acknowledge the evils 
of war, or who keep the peace themselves. Not merely the 
gentle, and the forbearing, and the forgiving among men. 
This is indispensable to the securing of the blessing, but the 
language requires more than this ; it requires activity. Peace¬ 
makers are those who by their efforts , as well as their example , 
strive to promote peace among others. They are to be as 
warmly engaged to keep peace, or to make peace, as others are 
to make war. They are to do as much to make peace, as 
those of an opposite character do to make war. They are to 
strive and remove the causes of contention. They are to exer¬ 
cise all the means which God has entrusted to them, to promote 
the reign of Peace in every heart and in every land. They 
are to take a deep , and a lasting , and a practical interest in 
a subject which so intimately concerns the well-being of man¬ 
kind both in time and in eternity. For example, if we see two 
persons engaged in an angry dispute, this passage clearly in¬ 
volves the duty of attempting to make peace between them. 
Does it then not extend its demand, if, instead of two persons, 
whole nations are engaged in deadly strife ? No matter though 
the means in our power be but as one talent, let us be careful 
to use it. The amount of means, or the prospect of success, 
has nothing to do with it. It is the exercise of those means 
for which we are responsible ; and therefore, under the govern- 


V' 


15 

iiient of God, a person whose means are small, has an oppor¬ 
tunity of laying up as many and as great treasures in heaven 
as others ; for the measure of requirement is always in propor¬ 
tion to the measure of the trust. But if, according to this pas¬ 
sage, we are required to use our efforts to promote peace where 
Contention has actually begun, does it free us from the obliga¬ 
tion of using our efforts to prevent strife where it is likely to 
take place ? If we know of any circumstances between two 
individuals, which will probably result in the death of one or 
both of them, do not the scriptures, nay do not the laws of the 
land, and common humanity, require us to prevent, if possible, 
the fatal deed ? and to try by actual and appropriate effort , 
whether it be possible or not ? Merely to say that the thing is 
impossible, is not exercising our powers to prevent it, nor does 
it shield us, in the sight of God, from being accessory to the 
crime. It is only when all the means have been employed,— 
when the whole amount of our powers have been exercised, 
and exercised faithfully and perseveringly, that it will do for 
us, in view of a heart-searching God, to say it is impossible. 
And if we are required thus to act in the case of individuals, are 
we free from the obligation of endeavoring in time of peace, to 
prevent the occurrence of war between whole nations? We 
know that unless much is done to change the public mind on 
this subject, and to tear away the false splendor of war, circum¬ 
stances do exist, which, to a moral certainty, at some time or 
other, will result in the death of thousands and millions of our 
fellow beings. All the elements of war still exist, and while 
things remain as they are, Peace is only the momentary resting 
of the volcano, in which materials are collecting for a more tre¬ 
mendous bursting forth of fire and of death. Is it a time, then, 
in which men may innocently withhold their efforts ? Are 
they relieved from the obligation of acting in this matter, merely 
because there is no present appearance of danger ? No; sure¬ 
ly not. In time of Peace, it is the duty of every one, with all 
his heart, to lend his aid to this cause, that, Peace may continue. 
And especially should every Christian’s motto be, “ In time of 
Peace, prepare for” Peace. Nor will it do in the case of na- 


* 


) 


i(J 

lions, any more than in that of individuals, to use that easy 
argument , “it is impossible.” Impossible? What is impossi¬ 
ble ? That this inhuman work of slaughter should cease 7 
That men, social, rational, immortal men, should stop 
this system of mutual desolation and murder ? Rather let it be 
said that it is impossible it should continue ! Yes—we say no 
more than reason sanctions, and the word of God declares—this 
is impossible. No assertions, therefore, are more opposite to 
the truth, than those which tell us that we cannot accomplish 
any thing, however great, when we have the predictions and 
promises of omnipotence with us. The Christian world has 
this lesson to learn, that, under these circumstances, nothing is 
i?npossible. Though in themselves they can do nothing, they 
are to say with the apostle, “ We can do all things through 
Christ who strengtheneth us.” And with such a ground of 
hope, and such a source of encouragement, let them beware 
how they use that unchristian word, impossible ; and let them 
beware how they withhold their efforts from any object which 
has the sanction of God, no matter what may be the impedi¬ 
ments which appear in the way of its accomplishment. Faith 
is to expect great things, and to attempt great things, and then 
great things will be done. It is to be limited only by the power 
of God, and then mountains shall be removed. It is to reach 
out and grasp the promises of God, and, ever practical in its 
nature, it is to inspire appropriate efforts, and the promises of 
God shall be fulfilled. Thus, in the case before us, God de¬ 
clares in his word, that the day is coming when “ the nations 
of the earth shall learn war no more ;” when Peace, in all her 
gentleness, shall take up her abode in every dwelling, and scat¬ 
ter her treasures through every land. This is to be done through 
the power of that system of moral truth contained in this pre¬ 
cious volume, sent home to the human heart by the influence 
of the Holy Ghost, and fully developed in the lives of men. 
And the text shows us the instrumentality which is to be used in 
effecting this mighty change—“ Peace-makers The very 
thing which is predicted, God has allowed us the privilege, and 
has made it our duty, to labour to secure. So that, in these 



17 

cases, we are to regard tiie predictions not more as declarations 
of divine efficiency, than as pointing out proper ends for our 
efforts.—And thus fixing our eyes upon these predictions, as 
encouragements, we are to direct our labours towards their fulfil¬ 
ment. Suppose these had been omitted, not only would one of 
the strongest evidences of Christianity have been lost, but one 
of the strongest grounds of encouragement would have been 
wanting; for when we thought of the difficulties in our way, we 
might well have sat down in despair. Yet when the assured 
predictions of God attend the requirements and injunctions of 
his word, how should our hearts be inspired with faith, and hope, 
and zeal. As for example, when we are told that it is God 
that worketh in us, both to will and to do of his own good 
pleasure, what can afford us a greater encouragement to cher¬ 
ish and obey the dictates of the spirit within, and to work 
out our salvation with fear and trembling ? Take away this, 
and we may renounce forever the hope of heaven, but with it, 
no labours—no struggles are too severe—for we have a stream 
of hope flowing down to us from the throne of God. And thus 
in the regeneration of the world. While God who presides 
over all his works, predicts the reign of universal Peace, and 
the elevation, and purity, and happiness of the human race; 
it is to be effected by men—while God “works in” they are 
to u work out” and thus shall universal Peace be secured. 
Yes! it is to be accomplished by men—men, who without 
Christ can do nothing,—men, whose very strength is weakness, 
are thus to be clothed in the strength of the Almighty , and, 
by actual effort, they are to remodel the world. They are to 
beat swords into plough-shares and spears into pruning-hooks, 
and the word of God, embraced in the heart, and practiced in 
the life, is to be the fire and the hammer, by which it shall be 
accomplished. And let us remember that in time ol Peace, 
God holds us bound to make these efforts. Nay, this is the 
only time when they can be put forth. We are not to wait till 
the country is in an uproar, and then cry, u peace, peace, when 
there is no peace.” No, if ever the locks of grim visaged war 
are shorn, it must be while the monster sleeps, for let him 

3 


18 


arouse from his slumbers, and every cord that you throw around 
him will be broken like thread. 

But it may be asked, how are we to do this ? The question 
is frequently heard, what does the Peace Society propose to do ? 
Does it wish us to declare ourselves against all war ? We say 
yes—decidedly against all war! But, it is then asked, are 
there no cases in which self defence may be justified ? Before 
I answer this question, I would propose another—what is the 
object of the question ? In ninety-nine times out of a hun¬ 
dred, it is merely to impede the progress of Peace ! It is made 
to throw a bug-bear in the way of those whose benevolent 
hearts would lead them to act for the good of mankind. But 
supposing the question to be proposed with the sincere desire of 
ascertaining truth, as in some cases no doubt it is; I would 
again ask, under what circumstances, taking the Gospel as our 
rule of conduct, would one individual, in self defence, be justi¬ 
fied in taking the life of another? Now, those who contend 
for the justice of defensive war, admit, only where his own 
life , in case of non-resistance, must be sacrificed. For any 
thing less, they allow, that taking life cannot be justified. 
Now apply this to nations, and can we suppose that our 
country will ever be placed in such a position ? Why, then, 
burden this question with a supposition ? —why throw in our 
way an imaginary, and scarcely possible case, to oppose reali¬ 
ties, and thereby to impede the progress of the cause of Peace 
—the cause of humanity—the cause of God ? Allowing that 
we can imagine circumstances in which a defensive war 
might be unavoidable, is it probable that those circumstances 
will ever exist with us ? We say no—and therefore we decide 
against all war. Let not our efforts then, be interrupted by 
those who find it far easier to carp and to cavil, than to act. 
Considering the circumstances in which we are placed, we have 
nothing to do with the question of defensive war, because even 
those who defend it, acknowledge that the only grounds on 
which it can be justified, are not likely ever to occur with us, 
therefore, we can never be justified in declaring war, and con¬ 
sequently with us all war is wrong. We, therefore, cannot for 


4‘J>, 


19 

a moment permit a barely supj)osable case to stand against 
the establishment of a general principle, or to diminish in the 
least degree our efforts. 

Do you wish us, it is then asked, at once to disband our army, 
and our navy? No—we make no such demand. We only 
want you at present to aid us in diffusing knowledge on this 
subject, over the land. We want this monstrous evil to be fair¬ 
ly exposed. We want this inhuman—this unchristian prac¬ 
tice, to be viewed in the pure and heavenly light of “ the gospel 
of peace.” We want the public mind to be informed of the 
shocking crimes and the miseries of war. We want to strip 
off' that romance, and that false splendour in which this system 
of murder has been adorned, and we want it to be seen, as it is, 
as fatal to the souls as to the bodies of men, so that every feeling 
heart will be aroused to a sense of the extent of this evil, and 
every Christian man and woman, will assume that stand 
which the spirit of their religion demands. 

Every one will admit that the cause of Peace is beautiful 
in theory—that it proposes the richest blessings to mankind. 
Nor can any doubt for a moment that such an object is 
worthy of their efforts, and that God demands of them, to the 
utmost of their power, to strive for its accomplishment. Yet 
they ask how can it be done ? The answer is plain, and the 
means are perfectly practicable. Let pastors of churches, or 
other friends to the cause, at once begin to organize Peace So¬ 
cieties through the land—let these societies take their place by 
the side of our missionary, and Bible, and tract societies, for 
they belong to the same heaven-born family, and are by no 
means behind the most important of them all. 

Let respectable periodicals * be published, and let them be 

* We take great pleasure in stating that this Society has made arrangements 
to publish a quarterly periodical, to be entitled “ The American Advocate of 
Peace.” It is to be issued by William Watson, Esq., of Hartford, the Agent 
of the Society, and edited by the Rev. C. S. Henry, of West Hartford, Conn. 
With the talents of this gentleman the public are already acquainted; and we 
hope that the labors of the indefatigable Agent, and the known ability of the 
Editor, will secure for this work the liberal patronage of the public. 


20 


well sustained. Let them give to the public able discussions 
on the subject. Let them show, as very easily may be done, 
the impolicy of war, for it is invariably attended by an immense 
loss on both sides. Let them show the public that war never 
establishes the principle of right, any more than a duel. The 
vanquished may be right, and the victor may be wrong. Let 
them show what an incalculable bearing the principles of Peace 
would have on the well-being and perpetuity of our republic. 
Little more than half a century has elapsed, and already we 
have heard of disunion. Had this been persisted in, civil war 
would have been the result, and our land would have been 
drenched with the blood of her sons. And this is the rock on 
which we are most likely to split. We are in no danger from 
any foreign foe; but if the customs and the principles which 
now exist, continue to be fostered by public sentiment, it requires 
not the prescience of a prophet to foresee, that the time is com¬ 
ing when these things will burst forth in their native terrors, 
and our boasted republic, like those that have gone before it, 
will destroy itself. If the whole country was a Peace Society; 
however, the Union would be everlasting. All parties would 
then seek to conciliate and to make peace. Discord would be 
banished from our shores, and in the whole land we should be¬ 
hold a picture of happiness and Peace. And above all, let these 
periodicals show how utterly the spirit of war is opposed to 
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let every lover of his 
country, and every lover of mankind, and every lover of the 
Prince of Peace, use his efforts and contribute his aid to support 
these periodicals—and thus let the mighty power of the press 
be brought to bear ; and let the power of the pulpit be brought 
to bear in this cause. Yes, let preachers of the gospel hold up 
the religion of Jesus Christ as a religion for the whole w r orld, 
and as a religion which must be seen as well as felt, and which, 
in its genuine exercise, does not limit its interests to self, or to a 
particular party or nation, but, like the broad, blue, peaceful 
arch of heaven, spreads itself over the Avhole human race.* 

* And we might here also add, as another means of promoting peace, let 
Christians cultivate and exhibit more of that warm and sincere brotherly affec- 



21 

Let our able statesmen also take up the subject. It is wor¬ 
thy of their mightiest efforts ; nor do I know of any subject, 
in the present day, which offers to them a richer field for their 

tion which enters so deeply into the very spirit of their religion, and which the 
Lord Jesus Christ so solemnly enjoined in the last hours of his life. The 
only new commandment which he left for us was that we should love one 
another even as he had loved us. And it may be well for those who appear 
as apologists for the present divisions of the Christian church, and assume 
the position that they are productive of good, seriously to inquire whether 
they are not thereby opposing the clearest and the most important lessons of 
the Son of God, and whether they can find good scriptural authority for 
confining the above injunction only to those of their own denomination or 
party. For my own part, it appears to me as a fit subject for lamentation— 
as something which ought to be regarded as a common calamity, in which 
“ the whole body” should feel itself suffering, that the church of Jesus Christ 
presents to the world such a picture of contending parties, mutually alienated 
from each other in their affections, and opposed to each other in their efforts. 
Amid all the zeal which we see displayed for particular systems and creeds, 
how few are there that “ study the things that make for Peace ?” How few 
are there that, with “ gentleness and meekness,” exert their powers to heal 
these divisions, instead of multiplying them, or to diminish the distance be¬ 
tween the parties, instead of driving them still further from each other? O 
that Christians would more observe the advice of the wise king of Israel— 
“ The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave 
off contention before it he meddled with." “It is strange,” said the great 
Robert Boyle, “ that men should rather be quarrelling for a few trifling opin¬ 
ions wherein they dissent, than to embrace one another for those many fun¬ 
damental truths wherein they agree.” It is said that when St. John, the 
apostle, became too old and infirm to say much in Christian assemblies, his 
constant and only exhortation was, “ Children love one another.” On being 
asked why he always said only this one thing, he replied that, “ this only 
was needed.” And indeed “ love is the fulfilling of the law.” Where shall 
we find in the modern history of the church, better specimens of godliness 
than the excellent John Howe, and the not less excellent Archbishop Leigh¬ 
ton ? Yet the chief charm of their characters was, that they were pre-emi¬ 
nently lovers of Peace. And if Christians would only read and imitate the 
lives of these two disciples of Christ, who are now in heaven—if they would 
only seek and cherish the spirit of the text, and become, towards each other , 
“ Peace makers,” the time might again come, when the church would once 
more put forth that most convincing proof of her divine origin, which extorted 
even from her foes the acknowledgment, “ see how these Christians love 
one another.” Her majesty and her beauty would then be seen and felt with 
a tenfold power, for then, in her own bosom she would carry Love, Joy, 
Peace. And would not her members, by thus bearing each other’s burthens, 
by thus mingling their sincere sympathies under the unavoidable afflictions 


labors. And if all these energies are roused to their full exer¬ 
cise, if our Editors, and our preachers of the gospel, and our 
statesmen, will only give to this cause the aid that it deserves, 
the public sentiment will soon be changed ; for war needs only 
to be exposed in its true and naked deformity, to be abhorred. 
Men will then no longer view the cause of Peace with heartless 
apathy. They will think of war with horror, and of heroes 
as of monsters who have rioted in human blood, and who, in 
many of their slaughtered victims, have probably robbed the 
world of far greater virtues than they themselves possess, or 
will ever display. They will no longer look with admiration 
on the pictures of a Napoleon, hung up in our parlours and 
our stores ; but they will turn away, and with a holy indig¬ 
nation exclaim, that is the picture of one who murdered 
three millions of his fellow men ! 

But it may be asked, what if the public sentiment is chan¬ 
ged, what will be gained by it ? What will be gained ! Ev¬ 
ery thing will be gained ; for under every government the 
people are to do all the fighting, the rulers, or commanders, 
are to gain all “ the glory,”—they are to be seated on the 
throne, but the people must lay down their hearts, pierced and 
mangled in the way, for the few honored ones to step over.— 
Now suppose that the people should be convinced that they 
are the mere tools of the ambitious, the mere dupes of the de¬ 
signing and plotting dignitaries, and should be convinced also, 
that this, their folly, is their sin ; and, rising up in the true 

and woes that are common to all, by thus uniting their hearts and their hands, 
as they journey onto heaven, through a world which is ever presenting 
scenes for their tears, their efforts, and their prayers, would they not, by 
such a course, instead of the noise of contention, impart to each other the 
best encouragement and support, and show forth, in its most attractive and 
resistless beauty, the loveliness of our holy religion ? Oh Christians, let us 
drop our disputes, we have been alienated from each other long enough. 
Let all who love our Lord Jesus Christ , now turn and love each other also. 
We have been long enough wasting the brief period of our probation in 
“ strife about words.” Let us now turn our thoughts and our efforts to the 
best way of making Peace ; and, loving each other with pure hearts fervent, 
ly, let us strive to walk together as “ the children of God,” the sons of a 
common Father, whose name is— Love. 



OQ 

40 

dignity of Christian decision, should leave these few honored 
ones to do their own fighting, do you think war would ever 
be proclaimed ? No! no ! 

Besides, if the public mind was made acquainted with the 
subject, it would prepare the way for petitions to our govern¬ 
ment. Petition after petition might be sent in, requesting that 
our ambassadors might be instructed, whenever any interna¬ 
tional difficulty occurred, first to try to its utmost extent, what 
could be done by arbitration. Only let this measure be adopt¬ 
ed by our country, and England, our Christian mother , 
England, would soon adopt similar measures. Yes, England 
would do it. We speak this with a confidence drawn from a 
candid estimate of the generosity, and humanity, and benevo¬ 
lence of the English character. In addition to this, have we 
not brethren in England, brethren who are at this moment 
contending for the same principles ? Is not many a warm 
heart in England beating in unison with our own, and longing 
to see the day when the Lion and the Eagle, the monarchs of 
the earth and of the skies, shall no longer feed oil blood ; but, 
with the gentleness of the lamb and the dove, shall delight in 
peace ? Yes ! thanks to our common Father in heaven, we 
have such brethren in England, brethren whom we love, and 
to whom we tender our hands and our hearts in Christian af¬ 
fection and fellowship, and to whom we would waft the assu¬ 
rance of our sympathies and our prayers. 

And when this point is attained, when England and Amer¬ 
ica, two of the principal nations on earth, have thus instructed 
their ambassadors in all foreign kingdoms, when they have 
thus shown the world an example, the glorious victory of uni¬ 
versal peace will soon be won.—Here then is the way, per¬ 
fectly plain and practicable. Only give your energies to the 
cause, and it shall prevail. 

In addition to these means, however, others must be brought 
in immediate requisition as auxiliaries. Education must un- 
dergo a change. It is no wonder that the subject of Peace, 
rich as it is with blessings to the world, awakens only such 
feeble efforts. The most of our present population have step- 


ped on the stage of life, either during or just after the Revolu¬ 
tionary struggle. From our infancy, we have heard the stories 
of noble deeds and brave triumphs. Nurses have told us of 
battles fought and conquests won. Perhaps our fathers have 
occupied conspicuous stations in the contest for freedom. And 
this influence is felt. From our early youth, we have also 
heard our heroes, with an eloquence which would better suit a 
heathen land, deified by our orators ; and we have been almost 
led to believe, that to die bravely in battle was a sure passport 
to heaven. And though it is unnecessary to say that these 
absurdities are derived from the Greek and Latin classics, yet, 
the influence of all this is felt. We can scarcely imagine a 
more subtle device of the adversary of souls than he has prac¬ 
tised on mankind, in getting these heathen classics admitted 
as the specimens and models for youth in Christian lands. 
Is it not casting a poison in the very fountain of our litera¬ 
ture, which is mingled in all its streams ? Do they not give 
an impulse and a shape to the morals of our youth, which 
many of them retain through all their future lives, and which 
is most adverse to the spirit of the gospel ? I know it may be 
said, they are not read for the purpose of instruction in morals. 
This we allow ; but what then ? Though they are not read 
for this purpose, is not their influence in this respect, felt ? Is 
not youth the season of life when the human mind is most 
impressible ? and are not the impressions then made, the most 
enduring ? Can you imagine, then, that these young minds 
are likely to wander through these impurities, and yet be kept 
utterly free from their pollution ? And, among other evils, it 
is in the tendency they have to throw a false splendor around 
military fame, to excite a spirit very different from the meek 
and forgiving spirit of the gospel, it is in their tendency to per¬ 
petuate the shocking custom of war, that we lament their 
influence. It has been well said by one of our most distin¬ 
guished Christian scholars,* that “ the epic poetry of the clas¬ 
sics, when left to operate on the youthful mind without control, 


* The Rev. Wm. C. Brownlee, D. D. 



25 

will minister fuel to the fiery spirit of war.” And the influ¬ 
ence which it has already produced in this respect, has been, 
we doubt not, incalculably great. It has first led to a bias in 
the minds of the scholars against the cause of peace, if not to 
a glowing admiration of military fame. It has then appeared 
in various degrees, in their subsequent writings, and speeches, 
and lives ; for these are our literary men who sway the public 
taste, and regulate the customs of society. Here, then, has 
been one fruitful source of war. Nor is this all. The stories of 
romance, the pages of novels, the songs of poets, and the painter’s 
skill, have all combined to spread this desolating fire through the 
land. It becomes us, however, to look at this subject, not as it is 
exhibited on the pages of heathen writers, or of novels and roman¬ 
ces, but on the pages of holy inspiration ; to draw our rules of mo¬ 
rals not from the foamy speeches of our orators, or the dreamy ef¬ 
fusions of our poets, but from the precepts of the Son of God. 
Let some Christian scholar, therefore, give to the public an 
edition of the classics, purified from these evils, or attended by 
judicious and counteracting notes. Let Christian parents guard 
the early education of their children, on this subject: let 
them be more careful to inspire them with the u spirit of Christ,” 
than the “ martial spiritteaching them that forgiveness is 
better than revenge, and that the only true greatness is to be 
truly good. And with regard to our Revolutionary fathers, 
let us still revere their memory ; but let us never suppose that 
military courage is religion: if so, the heathen are as religious 
as Christians. As to ourselves, therefore, let us make the ex¬ 
ample of Jesus Christ the rule of our lives ; following that of 
men, however esteemed, only so far as they followed him, for, 
blessed are the peace-makers, they shall be called the children 
of God. 

Finally: To you, my respected hearers, Gentlemen of 
the Senate and of the House of Representatives, al¬ 
low me to say, that the Society in behalf of which I appear 
before you this evening, presents to you an appeal which we 
trust your own reason sanctions, and your humane feelings 
cordially approve. Permit me to remind you, Gentlemen, that 

4 


26 


the sacred trust which, by divine Providence, is now committed 
to your hands, as it increases your influence, in the same pro¬ 
portion increases also your responsibility. We would urge upon 
you, therefore, the great importance of taking your stand with 
us on the side of Peace ; and of giving to this cause, which is 
the cause of your country and the cause of Christ, the encour¬ 
agement of your example and your efforts. Use the power 
which God has entrusted to you, in striving to avert from fu¬ 
ture generations, the horrors and the crimes of war. Let your 
names descend to posterity, as the firm and the faithful advo¬ 
cates of Peace ; and they shall be clothed in a glory worthy of 
your highest ambition, and as fadeless in duration, as the trea¬ 
sures of heaven. 

To you, Instructors and Students of Yale College, 
allow me also, in behalf of this Society, to address one word. 
Is not this cause worthy of your aid? Is it not one which, 
if you lend it your encouragement, will repay you with 
a ten-fold reward, in the hour of death, and at the bar 
of God ? We doubt not, Gentlemen, that those of you 
who occupy the responsible station of instructors, do often 
inquire how you can most secure the future happiness and use¬ 
fulness of your pupils. It is for you to guide these youthful 
minds, and to give them that direction which shall in a great 
measure determine their future course; and we doubt not that 
you are deeply sensible of your important trust. Let me there¬ 
fore intreat you to examine the true nature of this subject, and 
by all the means in your power, by your influence, which is 
felt over our land and over the world, and which shall continue 
to be felt for ages to come, seek the promotion of this most 
worthy cause. And let me intreat you also, my fellow youth, 
to cultivate this spirit of Peace in your own bosoms, and to 
spread it around you by your lives. It is unnecessary for me to 
remind you, that knowledge is only to be desired so far as it in¬ 
creases our means of glorifying God, and promoting the wel¬ 
fare of our fellow-men. Whatever may be the object which 
we have in view, if it is any thing less than this, it is of little 
importance. An immortal mind should never fix its aim lower 
than on immortal honors. All others are false and fleeting, 



and beneath its pursuit. They are merely phantoms, which 
dazzle to deceive, and delude to destroy. You may seek the 
fame and the glory of the world, and they may be won ; but 
they are of trifling value to beings who so soon must leave 
them. “ Set your affections, therefore, on things above.” Seek 
to attain the mental image of Jesus Christ ; early in life em¬ 
brace his cause, which is the cause of humanity, and involves 
the spirit of peace; let the world see that you are inspired by 
a purer and holier spirit than is breathed from the lyres of hea¬ 
then poets: and then, the blessing of the God of Peace shall 
be with you through the journey of life, and a Father’s em¬ 
brace shall await you at its close. 

To you, especially, my hearers, who are the Professed Disci¬ 
ples of the Prince of Peace, and who have assumed the glori¬ 
ous yet tremendous responsibility of standing forth before the 
world as his imitators, and as the specimens of the power of his 
grace, on you our society depends with confidence. We ex¬ 
pect that each one of you, in the full sense of the term, will be 
a “ Peace-maker.” The object of this society just as much de¬ 
mands your positive exertion , as any other work of Christian 
benevolence. Do you consider it your duty to aid the cause of 
Temperance ? Is it less so, to engage in the cause of Peace ? 
Has not war destroyed vastly more human lives,* and more 

* Edmund Burke calculated that from the commencement of the world 
to the beginning of the French Revolution, the number of human beings 
who had perished in war, was at least equal to seventy times the number 
then living. If we suppose the population then to have amounted to five 
hundred millions, the whole number of lives thus destroyed would amount to 
thirty-five thousand millions. If we carry the same proportion down to the 
present day, for every person now on the globe, seventy have perished in 
consequence of war, and allowing the population to be seven hundred mil¬ 
lions, it gives the immense number of forty-nine thousand millions. What a 
fearful picture does this present? Were these bodies all gathered together 
they would form a larger mass than the greatest mountain on earth, and the 
blood which has thus been shed, would literally make an ocean. What 
mind can conceive the agonies and the horrors which are involved in this ac¬ 
count, all of which have been inflicted by men upon their fellow-men. And 
how does it lead our reflections forward to that awful day, when the dead 
shall rise from their graves, and the account shall be rendered of “deeds 
done in the body.” 


immortal souls ? Has it not produced more misery and more 
crimes ? Has it not turned more widows and orphans on the 
cold charity of the world ? You are opposed to slavery,—it is 
well; but has not war led to greater cruelties and to unspeak¬ 
ably greater sufferings ?—Besides, has it not been one of the 
greatest impediments to the progress of our holy religion in 
heathen lands ? It is perfectly natural, that all the heathen 
who have any intelligence, should reason as the Turk did, 
when he said to a Christian, “ Tell me not that your religion 
is a religion of Peace: the followers of Christ shed as much 
blood as the followers of the Prophet.” And severe as this 
censure was, it was just. For the first few years Christians did 
not fight.* The spirit of Peace was identified with that of 
Christianity; and it was separating what God had join¬ 
ed, when it was supposed they could exist apart. Nev¬ 
er ought this sacrilege to have been committed ; for ever 
since, it has been the foulest spot on the Christian church, 
that its members, like the heathen, or like the very brutes, 
can engage in murderous war. We submit it, therefore, 
Lo your own conscience, my Christian hearers, Avhether you can 
longer remain inactive in this cause without guilt ?—Whether, 
while you refuse to put forth your instrumentality in this impor¬ 
tant branch of Christian benevolence, you are not in the sight 
of God, viewed absolutely in some degree, as accessary to all 
the murders and the crimes of Avar ?—Whether your labours 
in the cause of temperance, and in the cause of slavery, impor¬ 
tant and indispensable as they are, are not, while 5^011 remain 
indifferent and inactive in this, only straining out a gnat and 
swallowing a camel ?—And Avhether if you refuse to be peace¬ 
makers, you do not thereby forfeit the exalted claim and the 
hope of being the children of God ?—We expect, therefore, 
that every member of a Christian church, Avho has the spirit of 
his profession, will, as a matter of course, be a member of the 
Peace Society.—We expect that you will sIioav this spirit in 
your oAvn lives—in your families—in your intercourse Avith 


* Evidence of this is abundant. Vide Dymond’s Essays. 


29 

men, and that you will strive to promote it in others. Let the 
world, if they will, call it fear. W hat do you care for the 
world ? Do you regard its sneers more than the law of your 
God ? Fear ?—what has he to fear who can look up to the 
Great King of the Universe , and say— my Father ! 
What has he to fear who can look even upon death as his 
slave, waiting only that Father’s bidding, to open for his ad¬ 
mission the gates of the celestial paradise ? Besides, who is 
the truest and the noblest hero, an Alexander at the head of 
his army, fighting for his own aggrandizement ? or a Paul, 
devoting himself to the good of mankind, and, to secure this 
end, exclaiming, “ I am ready not only to he bound, hut also 
to die ?” Who is the truest and noblest hero, a Napoleon de¬ 
stroying three millions of his fellow-men, or a Stephen, falling 
beneath the blows of his enemies, yet suppressing every feeling 
of revenge, and, after the example of his Lord, raising his eyes 
to heaven, and pouring forth his prayer, “ Lord lay not this 
sin to their charge?” Is this fear, or is it the sublimity of 
courage ?—Is it defeat, or is it the highest triumph ?—Is it not 
a moral and an immortal being, rising above the vile propensi¬ 
ties of his animal nature, gaining a victory over sin, and over 
himself, and over the world—the most complete, the most glo¬ 
rious ? 

And these are examples which you, my Christian hearers, 
are to follow. Be ye therefore “ peace-makers,” that ye may 
be “ the children of God.” What an exalted honor is this ! 
The children of God ! Let the sons of kings and nobles exult 
in their distinguished birth ! Let the aspiring and the proud 
treasure up the long record of their ancestry, and, by drawing 
out the names of those who are now with the dead, where per¬ 
haps their dust mingles with that of the beggar or the brute, 
let them boast of their descent,—but what are all these dreams 
of greatness, to the substantial honors of those who are the 
children of God ? The children of God ! What parentage 
is so exalted as theirs ? Here indeed is a reward worthy of all 
your struggles ! Here is true glory. It is unfading, and it is 
spotless. It is bought without blood. It is to be attained, not 


by producing sorrow, hut by inspiring joy ; not by spreading 
terror and death over the earth, but by promoting the happiness 
of men. u Blessed are”—not distinguished heroes—not the 
mighty and the honoured among men—not the crowned vic¬ 
tor—not the renowned nor the brave,—but, “ Blessed are the 
Peace-makers , for they shall be called the children of God.” 
The children of God!—To belong to His redeemed family; 
to partake of u that inheritance which is incorruptible, and unde¬ 
filed, and that fadeth not away;” to be elevated to a state of 
being infinitely more exalted than the present—to have minds 
made clear to the perception of heavenly truth—and hearts 
made pure from the corruption of sin, and glowing with high 
and everlasting love;—to be thus holy, and therefore thus 
happy forever! Who, in view of an inheritance like this, 
would not mortify the angry and the wicked passions of his 
nature ? Who would not humble himself to be thus exalted ? 
Who would not rather, like our blessed Lord, wear a crown of 
thorns now, that, like Him also, he may thus wear a crown of 
glory forever hereafter—instead of wearing, with this world’s 
hero, a crown of 'miserable glory now, to wear a crown of thorns 
forever hereafter ?—Yes, when the sword of the warrior shall 
have pierced his own heart—when his very triumph shall 
prove his defeat—when he who rejoiced in victory shall him¬ 
self be vanquished—when the voice of fame shall be silent— 
when his wreath shall be withered—when his proud plume 
shall be in the dust—when, instead of the gazing crowd and 
the loud boast, he shall be forever crushed by his own crimes, 
—then shall the Peace-maker be seated on high amid the glo¬ 
ries of heaven, a child of the great King ! The Christian tri¬ 
umph shall be won, and the reward of virtue shall be eternally 
secure! 

“Deo servire est regnare.” 

I call upon you, therefore, # ye who call yourselves Chris¬ 
tians,—ye who stand forth as “ the salt of the earth” and “ the 
light of the world” —ye who “ have this hope” with all your 
hearts to engage in this cause, that this exalted blessing may be 



31 

yours—and that thus, being “ the children of God,” you may 
glorify your Father who is in heaven. 

And to all of you, my hearers, let me propose this subject as 
the most sublime in which you can engage. Where is there 
an object so worthy the efforts of the true patriot and philanthro¬ 
pist ? Where is there a result so rich in blessings for your¬ 
selves, your children, and the world ? Where is there an en¬ 
terprise so sure of success ?—for it rests on the promise of Al¬ 
mighty God. Yes, great as it may appear, and great as the 
difficulties are which must be overcome, it shall be accomplish¬ 
ed. And (j, how bright and how deathless shall be the fame 
of that nation which first ushers in the reign of universal 
Peace ! And this, my brethren, is the honour which I covet 
for my country. We have given the world an example of 
what the world calls courage. Our little army contended for 
freedom, and it was won. We have now no reason to fear the 
proudest nation on earth. y, hi, us now exhibit a courage 
more illustrious still—a courage to oppose Christian meekness 
and forbearance to the evil passions of our fallen nature—a 
courage to live and act as spiritual and immortal beings. And 
let us exhibit to the world an example of a free, an enlightened, 
a magnanimous people bowing clown to the Prince of Peace,— 
throwing aside the garments rolled in blood, for the pure and 
the spotless robes of “ the children of God.” Let us retain our 
national motto, “ E Pluribus Unum.” There is in that motto 
the true spirit of Christian benevolence. But let it be under¬ 
stood, as the Son of God would enjoin it, to include the whole 
family of man. Let it be synonymous with that of the primi¬ 
tive Christians, as declared by Tertullian, “ Our republic is the 
world .” When it is thus understood, and thus embraced in 
the hearts of the people, then, O how rejoicingly will our ban¬ 
ner wave on the hills, and float on the deep ! And then, too, 
our States may, with propriety, be compared to the stars of 
heaven ; for then they shall pour a peaceful light over the whole 
world, and, like them, unceasingly proclaim, “ Glory to God 
in the highest, on earth Peace, and good will towards men.” 









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